00SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 43(STA)                                                                 
01 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the                                         
02 rights of victims of crimes and to penal administration.                                                                
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  Article I, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
05  SECTION 12.  PENAL ADMINISTRATION [EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT].                                                           
06 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and                                        
07 unusual punishments inflicted.  Penal administration shall be based [ON THE                                             
08 PRINCIPLE OF REFORMATION AND] upon the following in the order provided:                                               
09 the need for protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender, the                                        
10 rights of victims of crimes, restitution from the offender, and the principle of                                        
11 reformation.                                                                                                           
12    * Sec. 2.  Article I, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding a new section                        
13 to read:                                                                                                                
14  SECTION 24.  RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS.  To preserve and protect                                                        

01 victims' rights to justice and due process, a victim of crime shall have the right to be                                
02 reasonably protected from the accused, to confer with the prosecution, and to be                                        
03 treated with dignity, respect, and fairness during all phases of the criminal and juvenile                              
04 justice process.  A victim of crime shall be entitled to the right:  to timely disposition                              
05 of the case following the arrest of the accused; to be informed of and allowed to be                                    
06 present at all criminal or juvenile proceedings where the accused has the right to be                                   
07 present; to be allowed to be heard, upon request, at sentencing, before or after                                        
08 conviction or juvenile adjudication, and at any proceeding where the accused's release                                  
09 from custody is considered; to restitution from the accused; and to be informed, upon                                   
10 request, of the accused's escape or release from custody before or after conviction or                                  
11 juvenile adjudication.  The legislature shall implement this section.                                                   
12    * Sec. 3.  The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the voters of                           
13 the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the                        
14 State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.